ARCHIVE - Legislative Updates

January 24, 2017

1. Continue to reach out to your senators and representatives. Find out who they are HERE.

2. Registration for the Iowa ACAC and ISCA’s Visit the Hill Day on Thursday, March 9th is OPEN. Please register HERE. There is a $50 voucher available to bring your students. Ryan Wise will be sharing the keynote, and there will be several interesting sessions. Please join us!!

3. Please stay informed on the national level about the Education Secretary Nominee, Besty DeVos. Please share your opinions with Senator Grassley and Senator Ernst. You can find their contact information HERE.

BUDGET CUTS TALKS UNDERWAY
• Intense negotiations are going on between the House, Senate and Governor’s office regarding what and where to cut the current FY 17 budget. • Governor Branstad has proposed over $110 million dollars in cuts due to lower than expected state revenues in the current budget year. • While these negotiations take place, work on other issues such as collective bargaining, water quality and the FY 18 budget remain on hold.

Bills of interest:

HF 48 - Student Data Collection (M) - The bill requires the department to establish policies or student data collection, and to annually conduct an inventory of and categorize the data collected on students and the purposes for which the data is collected, and report its findings and recommendations to the general assembly by November 1, 2017, and by November 1 each succeeding year. The department must also create a detailed student data security plan, a data breach plan, data retention or destruction plans, and guidelines for authorizing student and parental access to student data. Referred to Education.

HF 28- Financial Literacy (M) - This bill adds a one-half unit course in personal finance literacy to the educational program each school district and accredited nonpublic school is required to offer in grades 9-12 and requires all students to take the course as a condition of graduation. Referred to Education.

HSB 17- School Employee Discipline (M) - This bill adds to the list of disciplinary actions taken against a licensed school employee that are required to be reported to the board of educational examiners. The bill adds to the list being on school premises or at a school-sponsored activity involving students while under the influence of, possessing, using, or consuming illegal drugs, unauthorized drugs, or alcohol. Subcommittee: Wheeler, Hager, and Gaines.

SSB 1017- School Employee Discipline (M) - This bill adds to the list of disciplinary actions taken against a licensed school employee that are required to be reported to the board of educational examiners. The bill adds to the list being on school premises or at a school-sponsored activity involving students while under the influence of, possessing, using, or consuming illegal drugs, unauthorized drugs, or alcohol. Subcommittee: Lofgren, Dvorsky, and Kraayenbrink.

SSB 1001- Statewide Assessments (M) - This bill strikes a requirement that the state board’s rules provide that for the school year beginning July 1, 2017, and each succeeding school year, all students enrolled in school districts in grades 3 through 11 shall be administered an assessment during the last quarter of the school year that 18 assesses student progress on the core academic indicators. This is an issue we will continue to monitor. Approved by subcommittee.

January 17, 2017

The Iowa Legislature met last week to start the 2017 session. There will be a lot of critical issues involving education that will be discussed that could affect our students. Please stay informed and communicate with your legislators (senators and representatives). The Find Your Legislator Page will help you find out who your senator and representative are for your district. Choose your city and the names will come up. Click on the senator and representative names, and it will take you to the page with their contact information. Please save the emails and bookmark these pages! Remember to use your personal email address.

1. Reach out to your senators and representatives.
a. Send an email introducing yourself. b. Call or write a letter. c. Subscribe to their emails and newsletters. d. Invite them for coffee. e. Attend Legislative Forums in your area.

2. Attend Iowa ACAC and ISCA’s Visit the Hill Day on Thursday, March 9th. Registration and more information will be available soon. This has become a favorite day for many ISCA members. Students are also welcome!!

3. Read the School Counselor Advocacy Effect Blog. Casey McMurray, ISCA’s Past President, shares information about the ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act) plan for Iowa and how to submit feedback. It will also be important to stay informed on a federal level about issues that could affect our students!!

Report from The Capital GroupISCA Lobbyist Report

The first week of the 87th Session of the Iowa General Assembly was highlighted by Governor Branstad’s Condition of the State Address.

In his address to a joint session of the House and Senate, Branstad unveiled his FY 2018 and 2019 budget proposal which included $100 million in cuts to the current fiscal year’s appropriations.

Bills of interest:
SSB 1001 - Statewide Assessments (M) - This bill strikes a requirement that beginning July 1, 2017, and each succeeding school year, all students enrolled in school districts in grades 3 through 11 shall be administered an assessment during the last quarter of the school year that assesses student progress on the core academic indicators. This is an issue we will continue to monitor. Subcommittee: Sinclair Chair, Rozenboom, Quirmbach.